My Family Chose Her And Lost Me Forever Chapter 09
By the time Lily came out of the shower, Ryan had read the whole thread.
It only went back four years. Anything older had been wiped.
Four years ago. The woman’s voice notes, auto-transcribed.
“Lily, listen to your mother. That family owes us. Your dad is in a hospital bed because of them. Every cent they give you is what you’re owed.”
Lily’s replies were short.
“I know Mom.”
“Ms. Mercer bought me a new coat today. Anna’s still in last year’s.”
The mother:
“Good. The more they give you, the less she gets. That’s how it should be. Somebody has to pay for your father’s life.”
Three years ago.
“Ryan yelled at Anna today. Because she said the family didn’t have enough money. He said she just can’t stand seeing me happy.”
“Perfect. The more they defend you and yell at her, the less room she has in that house. Keep being their good girl.”
Two years ago.
“Mom, I cried in front of Anna today on purpose. Said it was my fault I kept taking her things. The whole family came to comfort me. Ryan yelled at her.”
“Crying is your best weapon. The moment you cry, they go soft, and they decide the sister’s the problem. Remember that.”
Lily had answered with a laughing emoji, hand over mouth.
Most recent month.
“Mom, Anna scored way above me in the college exams. Nobody’s said a word about it. Everyone’s still fussing over me.”
“Also — her bottle in the cellar. From her birth year. Been gone for years. Nobody even remembers who Dad gave it to.”
“Good. In that house, you’re worth more than she is. She’s worth less than a bottle of wine.”
Last message. Yesterday.
“Lily, when they bring up your father, play the poor orphan. Cry a little. They’ll fold every time.”
Lily: “Okay Mom.”
……
Ryan walked into the middle of the living room.
“Everyone. In here. Now.”
Mom came out of the kitchen. “What is it?”
Dad came in from the porch. Lily came down the stairs in pajamas, saw Ryan’s face, stopped on the third step.
“Ryan — what—”
“Who’s the first pinned contact in your messages?”
Lily’s face went rigid.
“Ryan — I don’t know what you—”
“I screen-recorded the whole thread. Want me to read it out loud?”
He cast his phone to the TV.
The more they give you, the less she gets. That’s how it should be. Somebody has to pay for your father’s life.
The dish towel in Mom’s hand hit the floor.
Crying is your best weapon. The moment you cry, they go soft, and they decide the sister’s the problem.
Nobody spoke.
Lily’s face collapsed properly.
“It’s not — it’s not what it looks like—”
“Then what does it look like?” Ryan’s voice was very low.
“My mom told me to — I didn’t want to — I was just listening to my mom — I didn’t know Anna would—”
“You didn’t know.”
Ryan’s voice cracked.
“She lived in a mudroom for four years. Did you know that?”
“Her bottle got given away. Did you know that?”
“Her grandmother’s bangle came off her wrist and onto yours. Did you know that?”
“You knew all of it. From the start.”
Lily was crying now. Really crying.
Nobody moved.
Mom was leaning against the couch, lips trembling.
“Seven years.”
“I moved Anna into the mudroom so you’d have your own space.”
“I cut Anna’s allowance because you said you needed more.”
“I told her boyfriend to look out for you because you said you were scared alone.”
“All of it — for a lie?”
Lily opened her mouth and no sound came out.
She dropped into a crouch, arms around her knees.
Every other time she’d dropped like that, someone had gone to her.
Nobody moved.
Dad walked out onto the porch and slid the door shut. Through the glass, you could see his shoulders shake.
Ryan stood in the middle of the room and finally, finally, thought of me.
He picked up the phone.
“Hello. I’m calling about Anna Mercer. I’m her brother.”
“I’m sorry, sir. During the term of service we cannot release any personal information.”